A Dubbo woman who drove home drunk and crashed into a light pole with family members in the car, has now opened up to the "errors she's made".
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Jessica Rose Melville, 29, had been drinking at her ex-boyfriend's home, and consumed five cans of Woodstock bourbon and coke, before she decided to drive home about 4.45pm on March 21.
Melville was driving family members in a Toyota Rav, when she attempted to make a right hand turn onto Cypress Point Drive in Dubbo and lost control of the vehicle.
The car mounted the footpath before colliding with a street light post knocking it over causing significant damage to both the light and front of the vehicle.
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According to police, Melville contacted her father that was at home nearby, who walked to the scene and contacted police for assistance.
Police arrived and noticed Melville in the driver's seat, with family members in the back passenger seats. They did not appear to be distressed or sustain any injury.
When officers spoke to Melville she told them "I have been drinking and I know I'm going to be over the limit".
She was placed under arrest and later returned a positive alcohol reading of 0.087.
In court documents police said Melville appeared to hold a "complete disregard for the community and other road users" by her actions, and were concerned she would be involved in a more serious incident with potentially "dire circumstances".
Melville pleaded guilty to a second offence charge of mid-range drink-driving in Dubbo Local Court last Wednesday.
Defence lawyer D'arcy Pierce argued while her client had a record of prior drink-driving charges, she had been open about the "errors she's made".
"As you can see she's been quite frank and open with her merit counsellor," Ms Pierce told the court.
"It speaks to being abstinent to drugs and alcohol for 20 days at the time of writing.
"This demonstrates using merit to genuinely rehabilitate ... it wasn't participated in just to suit court."
Ms Pierce asked the court take into consideration Melville had completed the traffic offenders program, was cooperative with police, pleaded guilty early, and expressed remorse.
She said her client also relied heavily on her driving licence for her cleaning business, but had since been making it work "to the extent possible".
Magistrate Gary Wilson however frowned upon Ms Pierce's comments about the merit program being used to seek leniency from the court.
"First up Ms Pierce, I do not appreciate your cynical comments in relation to the merit program and those who participate in it," he said.
Magistrate Wilson recognised Melville lacked a good criminal record, but accepted she had taken some "very positive" steps.
Melville was disqualified from driving for six months, backdated to the time of the offence, fined $500 and ordered to install an interlock device for two years.